Counterbalance for pump-rods.



- B. F. BOWMAN.

OOUNTBRBALANOB FOR PUMP RODS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1011.

1,035,309, Patented Aug. 13, 1912.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY M Ben 'amz'rzFBowman. a 4- v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. BOWMAN, F KNOX CITY, TEXAS.

COUNTERBALANCE FOR PUMP-RODS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. Bow- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Knox City, in the county of Knox and State of Texas, have invented certain new" and useful Improvements in Counterbalances for Pump-Rods, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in counter-balances for pump-rods. Its object is to provide a pump attachment that will exert an upward pull upon the pump-rod, which will equalize the weight of the same and of the water supported by the pump piston, thus increasing the efliciency of the pump, and lessening the amount of power required to operate it.

The object of the invention is more specifically to provide a pair of coiled springs, which will be placed in tension during the down stroke of the pump-rod, and by their reaction from this tension will assist in raising the rod on the up-stroke.

A still further object lies in the provision of means whereby the amount of tension in said springs may be readily adjusted.

Finally, the object of my invention is to provide a device of the character described that will be strong, durable, simple and eflicient, and comparatively easy to construct, and one the various parts of which will not be likely to get out of working order.

With these and various other objects in view, my invention has relation to certain novel features of the construction and operation, an example of which is described in the following specification, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View, showing the herein described device attached to the pump-rod of a windmill pump, the upper portion of said rod being broken away. Fig. 2 is a detail side elevation of one of the spring casings with its supporting means the upper portion of a pitman being shown by which the casing is connected to the pump-rod, and the parts shown being in the position, which they occupy when the pump-rod is at the upper limit of its stroke.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of one of the spring casings, the cover thereof being removed to show the spring within.

Referring now more particularly to the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1911.

Patented Aug. 13,1912.

Serial No. 613,530.

drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in all the figures, the numeral 1 denotes a pump-rod, which extends into a well formed by a pipe 2. The upper extremity of the rod 1 is rigidly attached to the lower extremity of a rod 3, which last rod serves to transmit a reciprocating motion to the pump-rod from a windmill shaft, or other source of energy. A pair of horizontal bars 4 are oppositely mounted at their centers upon the lower portion of the rod 3, a plurality of bolt holes 5 being provided to permit vertical adjustment of the bars 4 upon their supporting rod. Between the extremities of the bars 4 are pivotally mounted the lower ends of a pair of pitmen 6, the upper extremities of which are bifurcated. Each of these bifurcated extremities receives a lug or bracket 7, projecting radially from a cylindrical casing 8 rotatably mounted. The casings 8 are mounted fast upon cylindrical rods 9, through which spindles 10 are axially extended, forming journals upon which the casings may rotate. The bearings for these journals are formed by the upper extremities of vertical bars 11, which constitute part of a rigid frame, in which the pump attachment is mounted. It will be observed that the front extremities of the spindles 10 are given a square cross-section, thus adapting them to receive a crank by which they may be rotated to give the coiled springs 12 within the casing the proper amount of tension. Th ese springs have one of their extremities secured to the cylindrical rods or hubs 9, and the other extremities attached to the inner walls of the cas ing. A pawl-and-ratchet mechanism is provided to prevent the spindles 10 rotating under the force exerted upon them by the coiled springs. This mechanism consists of small ratchet wheels 13, one of which is fast upon each spindle 10, and a pawl 14; pivoted upon each upright 11, and acted upon by a coil spring 15 to hold it in engagement with the ratchet wheel. The uprights 11 are rigidly connected by bars 16 at each side and by rods 17 at the ends,,

the entire frame-work being supported by inclined beams 18. Between the lower pair of bars 16 are rigidly mounted a pair of clamping-blocks 19, which engage the upper extremity of the pipe 2.

From the above description the operation of the pump-rod-balancing device is apparent. In the case of an ordinary Well pump, the Work done by the driving mechanism all occurs upon the up-stroke of the pump rod, While upon the down-stroke the pump tends to add to the energy of the driving mechanism rather than decreasing said energy. The intermittent nature of the Work done therefore places a strain upon the machinery, and makes the operation jerky and wasteful of energy. The above described device serves to store up the energy caused by the dropping of the pumprod, piston and the Water carried thereby, and utilizes that energy upon the upstroke, thus making the strain upon the machinery constant and producing a desirable steadiness of operation.

What I claims is:

In a pump-rod counter-balance, the combination With a pump-rod, of a frame inclosing the same, a pair of spindles mounted Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

in said frame one at each side of the pumprocl, a cylindrical casing loosely mounted upon each spindle, a coiled spring Within each casing having its inner end attached to the spindle and its outer end secured to the inner Wall of the casing, an arm secured;

to one side of the casing and extending radially from said casing, a pair of cross-bars oppositely mounted upon the pump-rod, a pair of pitmen connecting said cross-bars to 'the arms of the casings, and pawl and ratchet mechanisms by means of Which said springs may be held in various adjustments.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. BOl/VMAN.

Witnesses:

WV. M. SANDIIER, A. N. DEERING.

Washington, D. G. 

